MISCELLANEOUS.

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 365, 15 September 1874, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

Dr. Brown-Sequard, in a late lecture delivered by Lim in Boston, United Staff?, sluted that there are many facts which show that morbid phenomena of respiration can always be stopped by thtt influence of nricst. Coughinjr, for instance, can bo stopped by pn sting on the nerves of the lip in the neighbourhood of tho no.c. A 1 resoure there uay pi event a cough whin it is beginning. It is geueiully known that sneezing may be stopped by this plun, but it is new to many that it em) check couching. I)r Brown Siquaid, however, is a great authority and asseiti it. He added that pressing iv the neighbourhood of the ear, right in front of the ear, may 6top coughing. It is also preventotive of hiccougb, but much less so than of sneezing or coughing. Pressing very linrd on tho top of the mouth inside is also a means of stopping coughing, and to show that the will has immense power lie mentioned that thero was a French nurse who mcd to say, " The first patient who coughs here will be depihed of his food to-day." It was exceedingly rare that a patient coughed. — Medical Press and Circular Mr Inspector Palmer made rather a staitling statement in the Geelong Police Court tho other day. In conducting a case against n lainkin who had been arrested on Sunday evening, he infoimed the Bench that tho larnkins of the town had formed themselves into a joint stock association, with limited liability, in order to pay any fines that might bo inflicted on any of its members. No evidence was adduced in proof of the statement, which the Magistrates evidently took for granted to be true, as the Mayor immedmtely sentenced the culprit before him, named Kobeit Moore, as follows: — To a fine ot 5s for being drunk, or twenty-four hours' nnpnsoimii nt ; 20s, or fourteen dayr', for insulting behaviour; 20s, or fourteen days', for using obscene language ; and to one month's imprisonment, without the option of a fine, for having assaulted the police. The only witness against Moore wad the apprehending constable, Eahilly. Tho pi isoner was taken through the principal streets, handcuffed lo another larrakin, and followed by a crowd of people. The second prisoner was a cabman, named George Wright. Ho was charged with using obscene language, and with inciting the mob to ossault Constable Eahilly and rescue the prisoner Moore. As in the previous case no witnesses were called in support of the charge. Wright was sentenced to a fine of 20s, or 14 days, for using obscene language ; and to one month's imprisonment, without tho option of fine, for inciting the mob. Wright, it is said, is the sole support of his mother and a young family. Mr Palmer asked tho Bench to add hard labour to the sentences. Mr Penton, P.M., said the prisoners would undergo their punishment in cells. A pretty mantle-piece ornament may be obtained bsus- y pending an acorn, by a piece of thread tied round it, within half an inch of the surface of some water contained in a vas-e, tumbler, or saucer, and allowing it to remain undisturbed for several weeks. It will soon burst open, and small roots will seek the water; a straight and tapering stem, with beautiful glossy green leaves, will shoo: upward, and present a very pleuaant appearance. Chestnut trees may bo grown in the same manner, but their leaves are not so beautiful as those of the oak. Tho water should be changed once a month, taking care to supply water of the same warmth; bits of charcoal added to it will prevent tho water from souring. If the little loaves turn yellow, add one drop of ammonia to the water, and they will renew their luxuriance. Ano^h^r pretty ornament is made by wetting a sponge and sprinkling it with hemp, grass, canary, and other seeds. The sponge should be lefreshed with water daily so as to keep it moist. In a few dajs the seeds will geiminate, and the sponge will soon be covered v» ith masses of green foliage. A birth extraoulinary is recorded in the English papers. The wife of a Somersetshire labourer named Overend, living at the village of Wick, near Langport, Someisefc, gave birth to thiee boys in one day and a fourth on tho following day. The great clock of the British House of Parliament has been stopped for cleaning on account of having lost a second in one month. The a\erage variation of the clock does not amount to a quarter of a second in the year.